Machiavelli would be proud
Posted in Liberty Points by R Lee Wrights on January 15th, 2009 by Brian Irving
Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton has added a new chapter to his work. She said U.S. foreign policy should be based on “smart power,” developing the use of “the full range of tools at our disposal - diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal and cultural - picking the right tool, or combination of tools, for each situation.”
This is political new speak at its finest. Politicians talk about using “tools” to manipulate people, groups and nations to do what they want them to do. Of course, they never mention that the biggest “tool” they have is force. Most people don’t care what kind of tools a carpenter has; they want to know if he knows how to use them.
Politicians are lousy carpenters. “Smart power” will work as well internationally as “smart growth” does locally.
One of the “tools” Secretary Clinton will have is her husband. The former President of the United States will be free to solicit contributions from foreign sources for his “foundation,” the ultimate “pay to play” scheme, more appropriately called “protection money.”
Meanwhile, Obama’s appointee to be Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy F. Geithner, gets a pass on his failure to pay nearly $43 million in taxes. Senators from both parties quickly fell all over themselves saying these were “common” and “innocent” mistakes. After all, he eventually paid the taxes. The beneficent IRS waived the interest and penalties for their future boss.
So, small businesses can ask for the Geithner Waiver they next time they are audited or make a “common” or “innocent” mistake in reporting their Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Brian Irving is a contributing editor for Liberty For All. Read more of Irving’s rants at www.libertypoint.org.
